Tracing the evolution of fantasy gaming from its origins in tabletop war and collectible card games to contemporary web-based live action and massive multi-player games, this book examines the archetypes and concepts within the fantasy gaming genre alongside the roles and functions of the game players themselves. Other topics include: how The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings helped shape fantasy gaming through Tolkien's obsessive attention to detail and virtual world building; the community-based fellowship embraced by players of both play-by-post and persistent browser-based games, despite the fact that these games are fundamentally solo experiences; the origins of gamebooks and interactive fiction; and the evolution of online gaming in terms of technological capabilities, media richness, narrative structure, coding authority, and participant roles.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Table of Contents<
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
1. The Lord of the Rings
2. Collectible Card Games and Miniature Wargames
3. Tabletop Role-Playing Games
4. Play-By-Post and Browser-Based Games
5. Gamebooks and Interactive Fiction
6. Multi-User Dungeons
7. Computer Role-Playing Games
8. Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games
9. Live Action Role-Playing Games
Conclusion
Glossary
Sources
Index
